Content and Conversation: Organic Growth Insights from Siege Media

Michael Buckbee, the brain behind Knowatoa, dives into the world of AI-driven SEO strategies. He reveals how to effectively rank on AI search engines by understanding user intent and optimizing content. The discussion highlights the importance of domain authority and social media presence in enhancing visibility. Buckbee emphasizes the need for marketers to adapt their approaches as search landscapes evolve. Expect insights on brand engagement and leveraging online communities for increased search traffic, all while navigating the future of SEO.

We’re joined by Brian Dean, co-founder of Exploding Topics, as he shares his journey of transitioning from SEO education to trend-spotting innovation. We dive into the creation of Exploding Topics, exploring its origins as a side project, the collaboration with fellow entrepreneurs, and the strategic enhancements that shaped it into a successful SaaS platform. Brian discusses the importance of addressing customer needs, navigating the acquisition process with SEMrush, and reflects on the evolving landscape of SEO and search in the age of AI. He also candidly shares the psychological adjustments entrepreneurs face post-acquisition and offers insights into maintaining momentum in their careers.Chapters:0:00 Intro and Welcome to Brian1:17 The Origin of Exploding Topics9:12 Transitioning to SaaS Model11:13 The Journey to Selling16:29 Buyer Relationships Matter18:37 Reflections on SaaS Success22:36 Finding the Right Co-Founder27:18 Thoughts on the Future of Search30:55 Life After AcquisitionShow Links:Subscribe today for weekly tipsFollow Ross on XSend Us an EmailFollow Brian on LinkedinExploding TopicsThe SaaS consultant Brian recommended#seo | #contentmarketing Subscribe today for weekly tips: https://bit.ly/3dBM61f Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-and-conversation-seo-tips-from-siege-media/id1289467174 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kiaFGXO5UcT2qXVRuXjsM Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9jT3NjUkdLeA Follow Siege on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siegemedia Follow Ross on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rosshudgens Directed by Cara Brown: https://twitter.com/cararbrown Email Ross: ross@siegemedia.com #seo | #contentmarketing

This week on Content & Conversation, Ross and Emily Campbell-Snidal, VP of Content Marketing at Siege Media, explore how brands can craft effective content strategies during election season. Show Notes:0:00 Election Strategies and Content Creation2:48 Rethinking Content Calendars4:37 Leveraging Current Events for Engagement7:21 Updating Existing Content for Relevance10:04 Navigating Political Topics with Neutrality12:57 Long-Term Strategy Amidst Short-Term EventsShow Links:Subscribe today for weekly tipsFollow Ross on XSend Us an Email  Subscribe today for weekly tips: https://bit.ly/3dBM61f Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-and-conversation-seo-tips-from-siege-media/id1289467174 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kiaFGXO5UcT2qXVRuXjsM Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9jT3NjUkdLeA Follow Siege on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siegemedia Follow Ross on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rosshudgens Directed by Cara Brown: https://twitter.com/cararbrown Email Ross: ross@siegemedia.com #seo | #contentmarketing

Show Notes:00:00 - Intro00:40 - Clearscope and the future of SEO13:08 - What are language models actually good for?29:10 - Using the data to guide strategy39:00 - Discussing Reddit and SERPs49:00 - Is there optimism for the future? Subscribe today for weekly tips: https://bit.ly/3dBM61f Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-and-conversation-seo-tips-from-siege-media/id1289467174 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kiaFGXO5UcT2qXVRuXjsM Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9jT3NjUkdLeA Follow Siege on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siegemedia Follow Ross on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rosshudgens Directed by Cara Brown: https://twitter.com/cararbrown Email Ross: ross@siegemedia.com #seo | #contentmarketing

Show Notes:00:09: Welcome, Jimmy Daly, Co-Founder and CEO of Superpath03:30: What does high-performance SaaS content look like?06:48: The importance of knowing your product (Fresh Paint)10:24: Outstanding content in SaaS11:16: The advantages of compiling your own data13:03: Jimmy’s Your Blog Is a Library Not a Publication21:31: The three best content marketing approaches24:33: The balance between publishing frequency and SEO30:19: Missed traits of high-performing freelance writers37:54: Final tips, tricks, and tactics Subscribe today for weekly tips: https://bit.ly/3dBM61f Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-and-conversation-seo-tips-from-siege-media/id1289467174 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kiaFGXO5UcT2qXVRuXjsM Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9jT3NjUkdLeA Follow Siege on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siegemedia Follow Ross on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rosshudgens Directed by Cara Brown: https://twitter.com/cararbrown Email Ross: ross@siegemedia.com #seo | #contentmarketing

Show Notes:00:05: Welcome, Matt Bowers, SEO Consultant (Zapier and Zillow Alum)11:01: Indexation is becoming more challenging. Should a new startup consider programmatic?01:12: Do you believe there’s a minimum threshold of unique content that a programmatic page should have to be successful?11:01: Indexation is becoming more challenging. Should a new startup consider programmatic?20:04: Certain SERPs may not display programmatic page types. Do you think this reflects on the potential success of programmatic approaches?22:44: What does an ideal programmatic deployment strategy look like?26:34: What are the common mistakes in implementing programmatic?34:04: How do you conduct keyword research for long-tail keywords, when keyword tools often show “no data” or “zero” for them?38:14: What are your thoughts on using AI for those pages versus having a human in the loop?44:30: Can you share any great examples of successful programmatic SEO?45:39: Final tips, tricks, and insights from Matt Bowers48:20: How to connect with Matt Bowers Subscribe today for weekly tips: https://bit.ly/3dBM61f Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-and-conversation-seo-tips-from-siege-media/id1289467174 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kiaFGXO5UcT2qXVRuXjsM Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9jT3NjUkdLeA Follow Siege on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siegemedia Follow Ross on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rosshudgens Directed by Cara Brown: https://twitter.com/cararbrown Email Ross: ross@siegemedia.com #seo | #contentmarketing

Show Notes:00:00 - Introduction00:45 - What is Product-Led Digital PR?4:30 - Why you should choose Product-Led Digital PR6:37 - A case study with encouraging results8:30 - Putting your data to work10:00 - Running surveys13:00 - How do you make surveys effective?16:00 - What the future looks like18:00 - Final Thoughts Subscribe today for weekly tips: https://bit.ly/3dBM61f Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-and-conversation-seo-tips-from-siege-media/id1289467174 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kiaFGXO5UcT2qXVRuXjsM Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9jT3NjUkdLeA Follow Siege on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siegemedia Follow Ross on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rosshudgens Directed by Cara Brown: https://twitter.com/cararbrown Email Ross: ross@siegemedia.com #seo | #contentmarketing

Show Notes:00:08: Welcome, Jesse McDonald, Senior Director of SEO at Siege Media00:41: Mike King’s analysis of Google Search’s leaked internal engineering documentation (Read more)02:15: Overall site authority score03:05: The impact of clicks on rankings04:09: Defining Domain Authority04:49: “Font Size of Terms and Links Matters”05:26: The “small personal site” specification08:03: Authors as an explicit ranking feature09:13: Validity and effectiveness of the disavow tool10:27: AI Overviews: Initial observations (Read more)14:25: The traffic impact of AI Overviews by Kevin Indig (Read more)16:58: The future of hreflang (Read more)23:17: Why Google is cracking down on “parasite SEO” (Read more)30:10: Final wrap-up, thoughts, and SEO tipsShow Links:Follow Jesse on XFollow Ross on XSend Us an Email Subscribe today for weekly tips: https://bit.ly/3dBM61f Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-and-conversation-seo-tips-from-siege-media/id1289467174 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kiaFGXO5UcT2qXVRuXjsM Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9jT3NjUkdLeA Follow Siege on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siegemedia Follow Ross on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rosshudgens Directed by Cara Brown: https://twitter.com/cararbrown Email Ross: ross@siegemedia.com #seo | #contentmarketing

Show Notes:0:24: Exploring the optional internal team structure for content marketing 1:18: Why in-house Content Marketing Managers are the most effective 2:59: The role of SEO Managers in driving success (ideally) 4:03: The pitfalls of outsourcing and its impact on quality and bandwidth 5:19: The importance of consistency in brand voice and tone with freelancers 6:50: Ross’ perfect in-house team structure 9:02: The pros and cons of Founder/CEO involvement 11:58: How to navigate the challenges of in-house SEO management 13:35: Closing insightsShow LinksFollow Drew on TwitterFollow Ross on TwitterSend Us an Email Subscribe today for weekly tips: https://bit.ly/3dBM61f Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-and-conversation-seo-tips-from-siege-media/id1289467174 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kiaFGXO5UcT2qXVRuXjsM Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9jT3NjUkdLeA Follow Siege on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siegemedia Follow Ross on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rosshudgens Directed by Cara Brown: https://twitter.com/cararbrown Email Ross: ross@siegemedia.com #seo | #contentmarketing

Show Notes:00:00 - Introduction1:02 - Despite slightly smaller budgets, businesses remain committed to content marketing2:47: Reports indicate higher success rate for those who invest more per asset3:24: What we're currently seeing in AI's impact, AI usage up YOY5:25: Is AI helping or hurting your content?7:29: Where AI is making the most significant impact8:46: Unpacking the decline the link building and its implications10:32: The rise of organic link building11:42: Interactive content use surges13:07: Is AI and code development practical?14:51: Businesses biggest challenge — lead generationShow LinksFollow Drew on TwitterFollow Ross on TwitterSend Us an Email Subscribe today for weekly tips: https://bit.ly/3dBM61f Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-and-conversation-seo-tips-from-siege-media/id1289467174 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kiaFGXO5UcT2qXVRuXjsM Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9jT3NjUkdLeA Follow Siege on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siegemedia Follow Ross on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rosshudgens Directed by Cara Brown: https://twitter.com/cararbrown Email Ross: ross@siegemedia.com #seo | #contentmarketing